Candidate for best post of 2013: The Problem of Selfishness

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Friday, November 29. 2013

Candidate for best post of 2013: The Problem of Selfishness

Readers are probably slowly recovering from yesterday's feast day in America, but this is very good if you have 5 minutes, by Williamson: The Problem of Selfishness - Political self-interest is no less selfish than economic self-interest.

Presidents, Popes, everything except pumpkin pie. One quote:

The notion that the pursuit of power is somehow less selfish than the pursuit of money found its way into Pope Francis’s Evangelii Gaudium, in which the pope rehearses some ancient Catholic criticisms of market liberalism that have excited anti-capitalists throughout the world, who are always eager for any scrap of economic encouragement from an institution and a man with views they otherwise detest utterly...

Posted by The News Junkie in Best Essays of the Year, Our Essays at 16:58 | Comments (12) | Trackbacks (0)

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No matter what anyone else claims (other than my wife), nobody knows my interests better than myself. Anyone claiming to has just disqualified him/herself.

#1 Sam L. on 2013-11-29 17:31 (Reply)

From what I read, the Pope said nothing against capitalism--he did speak against idolizing money and excessive consumption, which limit one's proclivity to choose to give to those less fortunate. And, we in the US must recall that he's speaking to the entire world, not just us. It's one thing to remind us in a quote from Saint John Chrysostom: "Not to share one’s wealth with the poor is to steal from them and to take away their livelihood. It is not our own goods which we hold, but theirs." It's another to forceably take from one, through taxes, and give to another.

And I certainly don't think the Pope sees power as a zero-sum game, as seems to be implied in the last paragraph of the article. Elsewhere Pope Francis states that reform of the offices of the Pope and the curia are overdue. Christianity is clear that when one gives, one receives, frequently more. It may be that caring for an ailing relative brings more joy than pain. Christ didn't have to die on the Cross. He chose not to use his power for an infinitely great good. Christianity is not about power. It's about giving up power and trusting God.

#2 Mark on 2013-11-29 19:11 (Reply)

One thing to remember, priests see themselves (and are seen as) shepherds, leading the flock to pasture and warding off danger. So, I'd say the Pope and clergy understand power as a non zero sum game.

As to the utopia of "spontaneous orders and distributed economic forces ...", maybe the human race will out grow avarice before the Last Trump.

#2.1 walt moffett on 2013-11-29 23:08 (Reply)

Political self interest is no different than what? What? Who cares? Does anyone really care what the 'Church' or any of it's acolytes or popes have to say about how nice my deodorant smells? It's the Catholic Church for Christ's sake. And it is worm eaten with depravity from top to bottom. Jeepers already.

#3 W. C. Taqiyya on 2013-11-29 19:55 (Reply)

Must not be that much worm eaten from depravity as it is 2,000 years old and still going strong. They must be doing something right or perhaps, gasp, the Holy spirit is truly working through Christ's bride and it is thriving in spite of the silly little humans that inhabit and lead it.

#3.1 phil g on 2013-11-29 20:02 (Reply)

You are absolutely correct, the 'Church' yet thrives. If it were not so, I would have told you. Their lawyers are kept busy paying vast sums to settle lawsuits. Which means they have lots of money. The 'silly little people' running things, those folks who have a direct line to the almighty, still regularly show up on the headlines of the funny papers. So yes, the "Church" is doing just fine. And the children who are receiving, shall we say, advanced biology lessons, will eventually get over it. All is well, if you approve of such things. By all means, keep contributing. There are a great number of other institutions even older than the 'Church' which continue to thrive. This, despite being, in their very nature, depraved. Prostitution will always thrive and that is partly due to the fact that it is a very broad minded enterprise. Followers of the 'Church' can be both proud and reassured that the pope is broad minded also. Catholicism, or something calling itself that, will surely endure. It's so easy when sins are no longer something to get into a twist about. Kneel down, submit yourself, give tithes. Just know what it is you are worshiping.

#3.1.1 W. C. Taqiyya on 2013-11-30 10:51 (Reply)

Reading that article was, for me, time well spent.

#4 Agent Cooper on 2013-11-29 20:23 (Reply)

The problem is not selfishness, it's selfishness to the exclusion of other impulses, like generosity and compassion.

So the question is not "are you selfish?" If you are a human being to some extent you are. The question is "is that ALL you are?"

#5 stimpy on 2013-11-30 00:46 (Reply)

Does the Pope forget that, when the Church had great political power, it became a den of thieves?

#6 Bird Dog on 2013-11-30 07:18 (Reply)

once again the Pope has translation difficulties, please read
Fr Z's post on the matter

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2013/11/evangelii-gaudium-54-trickle-down-economics-significant-translation-error-changed-meaning/

also keep in mind where he is from, Argentina has rampant corruption in its markets and peronism is considered right wing, to us it is fascism mixed with corp. cronyism and socialism

#7 the german egyptian on 2013-11-30 08:32 (Reply)

BD, people do not like to be reminded of how vile, corrupt and evil the Church (including more than a few Popes) has been over its history. All in the past, well except for the pedophiles, and there is nothing to see, move on folks...

And exactly why are Churches (generic) tax exempt? Do they not use municipal services?

#8 Ron Snyder on 2013-11-30 09:36 (Reply)

Rather like the article, but he missed a major point. Political selfishness is much much worse. You can chose not to deal with selfish people, you can vote with your wallet if you think a corporation is too greedy. But your government collects it's bills at the point of a gun and they get to decide who owes how much.

Every time a Politician displays political selfishness, power is transferred from the people to the State - and there it stays, even after the politician dies. Worse - Much Much Worse.

#9 Not Rick (Link) on 2013-11-30 18:46 (Reply)

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Friday, November 29. 2013

Candidate for best post of 2013: The Problem of Selfishness